Pinoy guide to happy living in Japan

News Detail

2017.06.15

MRT-3 on limited operations for next 4 days due to safety inspection

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will be running on limited operations for the next four days as its management will conduct a thorough inspection of the rail system following a technical malfunction that occurred on one of its trains Tuesday night.

MRT-3 director for operations Deo Manalo stated that the number of trains will be reduced from 20 to 15 with a slower train speed at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) from the usual 40-60 kph starting 2 PM Wednesday until Sunday.

According to Manalo, a systematic check of the entire MRT-3 fleet is needed after the axle of the bogey system found under the train driver’s coach broke down causing a strange sound that was reportedly heard on one of the trains.

The incident forced the MRT-3 to unload passengers at the Santolan station at 7:25 PM Tuesday, and implement an hour-long provisional service from Shaw to Taft.

The MRT management decided to decrease the number of operating trains for the next few days to determine if the axles in the other trains were intact and did not pose any danger to the riding public.

It appealed for understanding among commuters due to the expected longer waiting time at stations as queuing hours could increase by as much as 30 percent during peak hours.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation said in a statement that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will coordinate with the MRT management for the deployment of additional buses for each stations.

MRT will also deploy additional trains to minimize the impact of speed reduction.

The MRT-3 system covers the entire stretch of EDSA from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City serving more than 500,000 passengers daily.